When you think of Chris O’Donnell, images of a clean-cut hero, loyal friend, and moral center spring to mind — whether it’s his days as Robin in Batman Forever or as the steadfast Agent G. Callen in NCIS: Los Angeles. Yet behind the camera, O’Donnell is far more than just Hollywood’s quiet leading man. He’s a husband, a father of five, and the beating heart of a family that has grown up alongside one of television’s most enduring crime dramas.
For decades, Chris O’Donnell has balanced fame, family, and fatherhood with the kind of steady grace rarely seen in the entertainment world — and, in doing so, he’s built not just a legacy on screen, but one at home.
A Love Story Written in Patience and Faith
Before the glitz and long-running fame of NCIS: Los Angeles, there was Caroline Fentress — a private, grounded woman who met O’Donnell through his older brother, Andrew. Their connection was immediate but unhurried. They spent three years getting to know each other before tying the knot in 1997, cementing what would become one of Hollywood’s most enduring marriages.
“She was different,” O’Donnell once shared in an interview. “I knew she was the one.”
Their relationship blossomed in the quiet spaces between film sets and real life — away from the Hollywood spotlight. Together, they would go on to build not only a home but a family of seven, each child a new chapter in their shared story.
Family First: The O’Donnell Philosophy
Chris O’Donnell grew up as the youngest of seven children in a tight-knit Catholic family from Illinois. His father, a self-made man who always prioritized family over fortune, became Chris’s lifelong role model. That early example shaped the actor’s values and became the cornerstone of how he would later raise his own children.
While many of his peers were chasing nightlife and industry parties, O’Donnell took a different path. “Running around L.A. clubs just wasn’t my scene,” he once admitted. Instead, he focused on creating a stable foundation — a rarity in Hollywood.
“I always wanted a big family,” he said. “After the fourth, I thought, ‘This is crazy,’ but then the fifth came, and somehow it wasn’t harder — it was just more love.”
The O’Donnell Children: A Hollywood Legacy in the Making
The O’Donnell household is a bustling world of creativity, laughter, and shared experiences. And over the years, four of Chris’s five children have found their way onto the NCIS: Los Angeles set — quite literally walking in their father’s footsteps.
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Lily Anne (born 1999) – Chris’s firstborn, whose arrival he nearly missed while filming Vertical Limit. He famously fainted upon seeing her for the first time. “I’m not great with hospitals,” he laughed, recalling the moment. Today, Lily’s love for performance mirrors her father’s — and she’s been open about her dreams of acting.
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Christopher Jr. (born 2000) – Known affectionately as “Chip,” he is the spitting image of his father in his Scent of a Woman days. Social media users often comment, “He looks just like you 25 years ago!” His resemblance is uncanny — a living mirror of O’Donnell’s younger self.
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Finley (born 2006) – Followed his siblings into acting, appearing in Tin Soldiers in 2011.
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Maeve Frances (born 2007) – Chris’s daughter who stole hearts — and a scene — in NCIS: Los Angeles. Before filming, she practiced her one line endlessly at home. “She was nervous at first,” Chris shared, “but once she saw her name on a star in my trailer, she was unstoppable.”
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Charles McHugh (born 2010) – The youngest, who also appeared as a young version of Callen in NCIS: LA.
It’s a family affair both on and off screen — one that beautifully blurs the line between fiction and family.
Balancing the Badge and the Backyard
As NCIS: Los Angeles soared in ratings and longevity, O’Donnell’s real-life children were growing up behind the scenes. “My first child was in diapers when I started NCIS: LA,” he reflected, “and now they’re all grown up.”
That timeline — 14 seasons, 323 episodes — became a family chronicle. The show wasn’t just a job; it was the backdrop of his children’s childhoods. And despite the demands of filming, O’Donnell made sure his home life never took a back seat.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, he embraced the unexpected pause. “The best thing was having dinners together again,” he said. “The kids were independent, but suddenly we were all at the table every night. It was chaotic but perfect.”
Of course, he joked about one downside: “I had to start monitoring my credit card bills — apparently, takeout and scooter rentals add up fast.”
When Art Imitates Life: ‘Come Dance With Me’
O’Donnell’s devotion to family even inspired his creative ventures. Alongside LL Cool J — his NCIS: LA co-star and close friend — he co-created Come Dance With Me, a competition show inspired by his daughter’s TikTok dances with her brothers.
“Watching them dance together made me realize how joyful it is when families connect through something creative,” he said. That moment sparked the idea for a show where parents dance with their kids, celebrating family bonds — much like his own home life.
A Father, A Mentor, A Legacy
Despite his Hollywood success, O’Donnell remains humble, guided by a simple mission: to raise kind, grounded children. “I’d be happy if they followed me into acting,” he said, “but even happier if they just find something they love.”
He’s watched his kids appear on his show, graduate from school, and find their paths — all while continuing to embody the steady, centered presence that’s defined his career.
When asked how he manages it all, O’Donnell smiles. “You just take it one day at a time,” he says. “In the end, family is what keeps you anchored.”
A Life Well Balanced
Chris O’Donnell’s life is a masterclass in equilibrium — between stardom and simplicity, career and fatherhood, duty and love. As NCIS: Los Angeles ended its historic run, he didn’t see it as an ending but a transition — more time to spend with the people who matter most.
In an industry built on fleeting fame, O’Donnell has built something lasting: a legacy not just on screen, but in the laughter of five children who adore him, a marriage that has endured the test of time, and a body of work that celebrates loyalty, love, and integrity — both scripted and real.
“I started this journey with one baby in diapers,” O’Donnell reflected with a laugh. “Now I have a house full of grown-ups. It’s been the best adventure of my life.”
